Central Arkansas to host New Orleans in league tilt
CONWAY - The University of Central Arkansas will be at home at the Farris Center for just the second time this season when they host the New Orleans Privateers at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
And while they're there, they will get another home game at 4 p.m. Saturday against Sam Houston State as part of a Southland Conference doubleheader.
UCA (2-7, 1-0) is coming off a road victory over McNeese State last Saturday.
UCA rallied from an early 9-0 deficit to win 81-67 and open Southland Conference play at 1-0 for the second straight season.
“It was great to be able to get a road win. It was good for the guys' confidence, knowing that we could do it,” said UCA head coach Anthony Boone. “And starting on the road, it's really good to get one like that, especially early.”
Boone said nothing will change in playing at home instead of on the road.
“We take the same approach at home or on the road,” he said. “But of course we've only had one home game this year so we definitely don't have a different approach.
It's just that we have an opportunity to possibly get another conference win, so we're going to put everything we can into this game.”
The Bears played six consecutive road games to start the season before hosting and beating Champion Christian 92-28 on Dec. 19.
“It's been all right. We've stayed pretty positive and the guys have stayed pretty positive,” Boone said. “We've pointed out things we need to work on, we've pointed out the things that we've done well. And the guys have handled it very well.”
Next on the agenda is to try to win at home, which coaches like to say is paramount in conference play. The Bears were 8-4 at home last season, including a 7-3 mark in SLC play.
“They are important, but every game is important. That's the idea in sports, and certainly in basketball, you need to win your games at home,” said Boone. “The road teams are at a little bit of a disadvantage, having to travel and sleeping in different places than they are accustomed to. And right now, with the guys not having any classes, we really need to focus on winning our home games.”